Apparatus and method for loading and unloading containers
First Claim
1. An apparatus for loading a plurality of items into a carrier, comprising:
- a fixed staging unit, on which the plurality of items are arranged according to a predetermined pattern;
a first conveyor configured to receive and transport the arranged items from the fixed staging unit, the first conveyor being movable substantially horizontally;
a second conveyor operatively connected to the first conveyor, the second conveyor being configured to receive the arranged items from the first conveyor and transport the arranged items into the carrier, the second conveyor being movable substantially horizontally and vertically; and
a control unit configured to control transportation of the arranged items from the second conveyor into the carrier when the second conveyor is vertically moved to a predetermined position.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for loading and unloading a plurality of shipping containers into a carrier. The containers are arranged according to a predetermined pattern on a fixed staging unit of the apparatus. A first conveyor of the apparatus receives and transports the arranged containers from the fixed staging unit. The first conveyor is movable horizontally. A second conveyor of the apparatus receives the containers from the first conveyor and transports the containers into the carrier. The second conveyor is movable horizontally and vertically. A control unit of the apparatus controls transportation of the containers from the second conveyor into the carrier when the second conveyor is vertically moved to a predetermined position.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for loading a plurality of items into a carrier, comprising:
-
a fixed staging unit, on which the plurality of items are arranged according to a predetermined pattern; a first conveyor configured to receive and transport the arranged items from the fixed staging unit, the first conveyor being movable substantially horizontally; a second conveyor operatively connected to the first conveyor, the second conveyor being configured to receive the arranged items from the first conveyor and transport the arranged items into the carrier, the second conveyor being movable substantially horizontally and vertically; and a control unit configured to control transportation of the arranged items from the second conveyor into the carrier when the second conveyor is vertically moved to a predetermined position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method of loading a plurality of items into a carrier, comprising:
-
arranging the plurality of items according to a predetermined pattern; moving the arranged items to a first conveyor; transporting the arranged items from the first conveyor to a second conveyor; moving the first conveyor and the second conveyor substantially horizontally to access a space within the carrier; moving the second conveyor substantially vertically to a predetermined position in the space; and moving the arranged items from the second conveyor into the carrier. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method of loading a plurality of items into a carrier, comprising:
-
arranging the plurality of items into a first group and a second group according to a predetermined pattern; moving the first group and the second group to a first conveyor; transporting the first group from the first conveyor to a second conveyor; stopping the first conveyor; moving the first conveyor and the second conveyor substantially horizontally to access a space within the carrier; moving the second conveyor substantially vertically to a first predetermined position in the space; moving the first group from the second conveyor into the carrier; restarting the first conveyor to transport the second group from the first conveyor to the second conveyor; moving the second conveyor substantially vertically to a second predetermined position in the space; and moving the second group from the second conveyor into the carrier. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification